Auer-Cairoli-Engel top qualifying at Paul Ricard

SRO

Apr 12

First race with #48 Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER for Matteo Cairoli, first pole together with Sprint Cup Champions Luca Auer and Maro Engel. Mercedes, Lamborghini, Porsche and Mc Laren squat 9 spots of the top 10 at Circuit Paul Ricard qualifying.

1-2 Mercedes-AMG

Lucas Auer and Matteo Cairoli in the #48 Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER entry topped each their qualifying session leading to an obvious pole for this evening’s race with a combined time of 1:53.712 even with Maro Engel P12.

Fabian Schiller, Jules Gounon and Luca Stolz will also start from front row with #17 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed AMG GT3 Evo as they clinched second place (0.123 seconds slower) in qualifying session.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Circuit Paul Ricard 2025. Both Mercedes-AMG Team Mercedes-AMG GT3

Lamborghini in second row

Mirko Bortolotti, Luca Engstler, Jordan Pepper with #63 GRT - Grasser Racing Team Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo qualified third in 1:53.847 while the #163 Vincenzo Sospiri Racing Lamborghini piloted by Sandy Mitchell, Franck Perera and Marco Mapelli qualified seventh.

Porsche 911 GT3 R locks third row

Klaus Bachler, Laurin Heinrich and Ayhancan Guven qualifyed fifth overall despite Klaus Bachler reeling off the fastest outright time with a 1:53.091 in the #22 Schumacher CLRT Porsche 911 GT3 R. Sven Mueller, Patric Niederhauser and Alessio Picariello took sixth in the #96 Rutronik Racing Porsche

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Circuit Paul Ricard 2025. Schumacher CLRT #22 Porsche 911 GT3 R

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Circuit Paul Ricard 2025. #96 Rutronik Racing Porsche

3 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo in top 10

3 McLaren qualified in the top 10 with the #59 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo locking out the second row (fourth overall). Sister #58 captured Gold Cup pole position (8th overall) with Adam Smalley, Dean MacDonald and Louis Prette while the #111 CSA Racing McLaren rounded out the overall top ten with Arthur Rougier, James Kell and Simon Gachet.